Quarterback training device

ABSTRACT

A quarterback training device is an electric football launcher that is able to mimic the snap of a center as performed during a football game and to place a spin on the launched ball. The speed of the launch is adjustable via a remote control and the device provides for a handoff shelf to be attached.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/619,864, filed Jan. 21, 2018 which application is incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of ball launching devices and more specifically relates to a quarterback training device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Training football players is an extensive task requiring time investment, study, and preparation. It is not actually known how many plays exist in the world of American football but a large number of chosen plays are always assembled into a single play book that the coach believes will bring the team a winning season. Each player on the team must remember his course of action for each play so that the team operates cohesively. Quarterbacks are especially hard to train due to the complexity of their position on the team. The quarterback must have hands that are able to grip and hang onto the ball whether he receives it by handoff or by an air pass. This is done while anticipating the moves of his teammates and evaluating the expected encroachment of members of the opposite team. Hanging onto the ball must become second nature. Receiving the ball from the center is an important skill the quarterback must develop to avoid a fumble. He must also have nimble hands to catch an underhand aerial pass in some plays. As such, an adjustable, repetitive, mechanical means to launch a football in order to train a quarterback to receive the ball is needed.

Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,532 to Boris M. Osojnak; U.S. Pat. No. 8,932,156 to Douglas L. Boehner; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,050,520 to Sheng-Hsiao Lu. This art is representative of American football launching devices. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

Ideally, a ball launching device should provide a means of launching a football similar to how a center would snap a football to a quarterback during a football game. The launching device should also be adjustable in launching force and able to be initiated by remote control, and yet, would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable quarterback training device to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known ball launching device art, the present invention provides a novel quarterback training device. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a means of launching a football similar to how a center would snap a football to a quarterback during a football game and also having a remote control for the launching device that is able to adjust the launching force and speed of the snap.

The quarterback training device preferably comprises a launching mechanism having a main body including a front panel having at least one aperture therethrough, a back panel, two spaced side panels connected between side edge portions of the front panel and the back panel, a top panel having at least one aperture therethrough connected to top edge portions of the front panel, the back panel, and the two spaced side panels, and a bottom panel connected to the bottom edge portions of the front panel, the back panel, and the two spaced side panels.

The main body forms an interior volume and has at least one wheel rotatably attached to the main body and adapted to allow the launching mechanism to be moved upon a supporting surface. A football feeder mechanism including a rotating football magazine is adapted to hold a plurality of footballs in a spaced relation to one another thereon and rotate the footballs within the interior volume of the main body. A magazine motor is connected to the rotating football magazine and is adapted to incrementally rotate the rotating football magazine.

A linear actuator having a stationary linear track is attached to the inner wall of the bottom panel of the main body and is adjacent to the rotating football magazine. A movable ball ram is slidably movable along the length of the stationary linear track and is adapted to move footballs individually outwardly from the rotating football magazine. An actuator motor is connected between the stationary linear track and the movable ball ram and is adapted to move the movable ball ram linearly upon the stationary linear track toward the front panel.

The football feeder mechanism is located within the interior volume of the main body and a user can individually place footballs into the launching mechanism through the aperture of the top panel and onto the rotating football magazine.

Two spaced launch wheels are individually, rotatably, and adjustably connected to the inner wall of the bottom panel of the main body and are positioned on opposite sides of a distal end portion of the stationary linear track located in proximity to the aperture of the front panel of the main body. The two spaced launch wheels each have an axis of rotation that is angularly adjustable with respect to the bottom panel of the main body such that when each respective football is moved onto the distal end portion of the stationary linear track, the two spaced launch wheels can squeeze and push each respective football and adjustably launch them outwardly through the aperture of the front panel of the main body. A launch wheel motor is connected to each respective launch wheel and is adapted to adjustably rotate the respective launch wheel.

A control is located upon the exterior surface of the main body and is electrically connected to the magazine motor, the actuator motor, and the two launch wheel motors, and is adapted to activate and control the motions. A remote controller including a switch is adapted to selectively activate the launching mechanism. A controller power supply provides electric power to the quarterback training device. The remote controller is adapted to electronically communicate with and control the launching mechanism. A power source is located within the interior volume of the main body and is electrically connected to the magazine motor, the actuator motor, the two launch wheel motors, and the control, for operation of the components.

An adjustable bar connected to the exterior surface of the bottom panel of the main body is spaced from the wheels and is adapted to adjust the angle of the main body with respect to the supporting surface to thereby change the launch angle of footballs being launched from the launching mechanism with respect to the supporting surface. The rotating football magazine includes a plurality of spaced panels adapted to separate individual footballs. The angle of the axis of rotation of each respective launch wheel is adjustable and adapted such that a desired rotation of each football can be achieved.

The remote controller includes an electronic cable and the switch is formed as a foot switch adapted to allow a user to selectively activate the launching mechanism with the user's foot. The power source may be formed as a rechargeable battery but in some embodiments the power source may be formed as an electric cable adapted to releasably connect with an external power source.

The main body includes a red indicator light thereon electrically connected to the control and adapted to emit a red light indicating a three-second countdown until a football is launched. The main body further includes a green indicator light electrically connected to the control adapted for indicating that the launching mechanism is inactive.

The at least one wheel is preferably formed as two spaced wheels rotatably attached to the main body. The front panel may have a second aperture therethrough adapted to allow a hand-off shelf to slide therethrough. The launching mechanism further includes a hand-off shelf adapted to slide out from the second aperture and to hold a football thereon outside from the interior volume of the main body.

The control includes a motor speed dial adapted to control the rotational speeds of the two launch wheel motors in order to slow down or speed up the velocity of a launched football. The remote controller may include a wireless wrist band having a button for activation. The wrist band is in electronic communication with the control and is adapted to allow a user to selectively activate the launching mechanism by pressing the button.

One of the two spaced side panels includes an elongated aperture therethrough. The movable ball ram includes an elongated rod extending therefrom adapted to extend through and move along the elongated aperture. The elongated rod includes a flag attached to the distal end portion. When the movable ball ram is moving along the stationary linear track toward the front panel, the flag indicates to a user that a football is about to be launched from the launching mechanism. The hand-off shelf is formed having a horse-shoe shape adapted to releasably hold a football thereon outside from the interior volume of the main body.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a quarterback training device. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a quarterback training device, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view illustrating a quarterback training device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view illustrating a hand-off shelf of the quarterback training device according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a internal rear perspective view illustrating the quarterback training device according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view with the top panel and front panel removed illustrating quarterback training device according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an in-use condition of the quarterback training device according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a ball launching device and more particularly to a quarterback training device as used to improve the launching of a football to more closely mimic how a center would snap a football to a quarterback during a football game and to provide a remote control for the launching device that would allow adjustments in launching speed.

Generally speaking, quarterback training device is an electric football launcher that is able to mimic the snap of a center as performed during a football game and to place a spin on the launched ball. The speed of the launch is adjustable via a remote control and the device provides for a handoff shelf to be attached.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIG. 1, a front perspective view illustrating the quarterback training device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Quarterback training device 100 preferably comprises launching mechanism 105 having main body 106 including front panel 107 having at least one aperture 108 therethrough, back panel 109, two spaced side panels 110 connected between side edge portion 111 of front panel 107 and back panel 109, top panel 112 having at least one aperture 113 therethrough connected to top edge portions 114 of front panel 107, back panel 109, and the two spaced side panels 110, and bottom panel 115 connected to bottom edge portions 117 of front panel 107, back panel 109, and the two spaced side panels 110.

Main body 106 forms interior volume 118 and has at least one wheel 120 rotatably attached to main body 106 that is adapted to allow launching mechanism 105 to be moved upon a supporting surface. Football feeder mechanism 125 is located within interior volume 118 of main body 106 and a user can individually place footballs 190 into launching mechanism 105 through aperture 113 of top panel 112 and onto rotating football magazine 130. Adjustable bar 195 connected to exterior surface 116 of bottom panel 115 of main body 106 is spaced from wheels 120 and is adapted to adjust the angle of main body 106 with respect to the supporting surface to thereby change the launch angle of footballs 190 being launched from launching mechanism 105 with respect to the supporting surface.

Main body 106 includes red indicator light 210 thereon electrically connected to control 170 and is adapted to emit a red light indicating a three-second countdown until football 190 is launched. Main body 106 further includes green indicator light 215 electrically connected to control 170 adapted for indicating that launching mechanism 105 is inactive.

One of the two spaced side panels 110 includes elongated aperture 235 therethrough. Movable ball ram 150 includes elongated rod 151 extending therefrom adapted to extend through and move along elongated aperture 235. Elongated rod 151 includes flag 236 attached to distal end portion 237. When movable ball ram 150 is moving along stationary linear track 145 toward front panel 107, flag 236 indicates to a user that football 190 is about to be launched from launching mechanism 105.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a front perspective view illustrating hand-off shelf 221 of quarterback training device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

Front panel 107 may have second aperture 220 therethrough adapted to allow hand-off shelf 221 to slide therethrough. Launching mechanism 105 further includes hand-off shelf 221 adapted to slide out from second aperture 220 and to hold football 190 thereon outside from interior volume 118 of main body 106. Hand-off shelf 221 is formed having a horse-shoe shape adapted to releasably hold football 190 thereon outside from interior volume 118 of main body 106.

Referring now to FIG. 3, is an internal rear perspective view illustrating quarterback training device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

Control 170 is located upon exterior surface 116 of main body 106 and is electrically connected to magazine motor 135, actuator motor 155, and the two launch wheel motors 161, and is adapted to activate and control the motions. Remote controller 175 including switch 176 is adapted to selectively activate launching mechanism 105. Controller power supply 180 provides electric power to quarterback training device 100. Power source 185 may be formed as rechargeable battery 205 but in some embodiments power source 185 may be formed as electric cable 186 adapted to releasably connect with an external power source. The at least one wheel 120 is preferably formed as two spaced wheels 120 rotatably attached to main body 106. Control 170 includes motor speed dial 225 adapted to control the rotational speeds of the two launch wheel motors 161 in order to slow down or speed up the velocity of a launched football 190.

Referring now to FIG. 4, showing a perspective view with top panel 112 and front panel 107 removed illustrating quarterback training device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

Football feeder mechanism 125 including rotating football magazine 130 is adapted to hold a plurality of footballs 190 in a spaced relation to one another thereon and rotate footballs 190 within interior volume 118 of main body 106. Magazine motor 135 is connected to rotating football magazine 130 and is adapted to incrementally rotate rotating football magazine 130. Linear actuator 140 having stationary linear track 145 is attached to the inner wall of bottom panel 115 of main body 106 and is adjacent to rotating football magazine 130. Movable ball ram 150 is slidably movable along the length of stationary linear track 145 and is adapted to move football 190 individually outwardly from rotating football magazine 130. Actuator motor 155 is connected between stationary linear track 145 and movable ball ram 150 and is adapted to move movable ball ram 150 linearly upon stationary linear track 145 toward front panel 107.

Two spaced launch wheels 160 are individually, rotatably, and adjustably connected to the inner wall of bottom panel 115 of main body 106 and are positioned on opposite sides of distal end portion 237 of stationary linear track 145 located in proximity to aperture 108 of front panel 107 of main body 106. The two spaced launch wheels 160 each have axis of rotation 200 that is angularly adjustable with respect to bottom panel 115 of main body 106 such that when each respective football 190 is moved onto distal end portion 237 of stationary linear track 145, the two spaced launch wheels 160 can squeeze and push each respective football 190 and adjustably launch them outwardly through aperture 108 of front panel 107 of main body 106.

Launch wheel motor 161 is connected to each respective launch wheel 160 and is adapted to adjustably rotate the respective launch wheel 160. Power source 185 is located within interior volume 118 of main body 106 and is electrically connected to magazine motor 135, actuator motor 155, the two launch wheel motors 161, and control 170, for operation of the components. Rotating football magazine 130 includes a plurality of spaced panels 199 adapted to separate individual football 190. The angle of axis of rotation 200 of each respective launch wheel 160 is adjustable and adapted such that a desired rotation of each football 190 can be achieved.

Referring now to FIG. 5, is a perspective view illustrating an in-use condition of quarterback training device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

Remote controller 175 is adapted to electronically communicate with and control launching mechanism 105 and may include electronic cable 177 with switch 176 formed as foot switch 178 adapted to allow a user to selectively activate launching mechanism 105 with the user's foot. Remote controller 175 may include wireless wrist band 230 having button 231 for activation. Wireless wrist band 230 is in electronic communication with control 170 and is adapted to allow a user to selectively activate launching mechanism 105 by pressing button 231.

Quarterback training device 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A quarterback training device comprising: a launching mechanism including: a main body including: a front panel having at least one aperture therethrough; a back panel; two spaced side panels connected between side edge portions of said front panel and said back panel; a top panel having at least one aperture therethrough and connected to top edge portions of said front panel, said back panel, and said two spaced side panels; and a bottom panel connected to bottom edge portions of said front panel, said back panel, and said two spaced side panels; wherein said main body is forms an interior volume; at least one wheel; wherein said at least one wheel is rotatably attached to said main body and adapted to allow said launching mechanism to be moved upon a supporting surface; a football feeder mechanism including: a rotating football magazine; wherein said rotating football magazine is adapted to hold a plurality of footballs in a spaced relation to one another thereon and rotate within said interior volume of said main body; a magazine motor; wherein said magazine motor is connected to said rotating football magazine and adapted to incrementally rotate said rotating football magazine; a linear actuator including; a stationary linear track;  wherein said stationary linear track is attached to an inner wall of said bottom panel of said main body and adjacent said rotating football magazine; a movable ball ram;  wherein said movable ball ram is slidably movable along a length of said stationary linear track and adapted to move footballs individually outwardly from said rotating football magazine; and an actuator motor;  wherein said actuator motor is connected between said stationary linear track and said movable ball ram and adapted to move said movable ball ram linearly upon said stationary linear track toward said front panel; wherein said football feeder mechanism is located within said interior volume of said main body; and wherein a user can individually place footballs into said launching mechanism through said aperture of said top panel and onto said rotating football magazine; two spaced launch wheels; wherein said two spaced launch wheels are individually rotatably and adjustably connected to said inner wall of said bottom panel of said main body, are positioned on opposite sides of a distal end portion of said stationary linear track; and are located in proximity to said aperture of said front panel of said main body; wherein said two spaced launch wheels each have an axis of rotation that is angularly adjustable with respect to said bottom panel of said main body, such that when each respective football is moved onto said distal end portion of said stationary linear track said two spaced launch wheels can squeeze and push each respective football and adjustably launch them outwardly through said aperture of said front panel of said main body; two launch wheel motors; wherein a respective launch wheel motor is connected to a respective launch wheel and adapted to adjustably rotate said respective launch wheel; and a control; wherein said control is located upon an exterior surface of said main body, is electrically connected to said magazine motor, said actuator motor, and said two launch wheel motors, and is adapted to activate and control the motions thereof; a remote controller including: a switch; wherein said switch is adapted to selectively activate said launching mechanism; and a controller power supply; wherein said controller power supply provides electric power thereto; wherein said remote controller is adapted to electronically communicate with said control of said launching mechanism and thereby control said launching mechanism; and a power source; wherein said power source is located with said interior volume of said main body, is electrically connected to said magazine motor, said actuator motor, said two launch wheel motors, and said control, and is adapted to provide electrical power thereto.
 2. The quarterback training device of claim 1, further including an adjustable bar adjustably connected to an exterior surface of said bottom panel of said main body, is spaced from said at least one wheel and is adapted to change the angle of said main body with respect to said supporting surface to thereby change the launch angle of footballs being launched from said launching mechanism with respect to said supporting surface.
 3. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein said rotating football magazine includes a plurality of spaced panels adapted to separate individual footballs.
 4. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein the angle of said axis of rotation of each respective said two spaced launch wheels is adjustable and adapted such that a desired rotation of each said football can be achieved.
 5. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein said remote controller includes an electronic cable, and said switch is formed as a foot switch adapted to allow a user to selectively activate said launching mechanism with their foot.
 6. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein said power source is formed as a rechargeable battery.
 7. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein said power source is formed as an electric cable adapted to releasably connect with an external power source.
 8. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein said main body further includes a red indicator light thereon electrically connected to said control and adapted to emit a red light indicating a three-second countdown until a football is launched.
 9. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein said main body further includes a green indicator light thereon electrically connected to said control and adapted to indicating that said launching mechanism is inactive.
 10. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein said at least one wheel is formed as two spaced wheels rotatably attached to said main body.
 11. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein said front panel has a second aperture therethrough adapted to allow a hand-off shelf to slide therethrough; wherein said launching mechanism further includes a hand-off shelf adapted to slide out from said second aperture; and wherein said hand-off shelf is adapted to hold a football thereon outside from said interior volume of said main body.
 12. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein said control includes a motor speed dial adapted to control the rotational speeds of the two launch wheel motors in order to slow down or speed up the velocity of a launched football.
 13. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein said remote controller includes a wireless wrist band including a button thereon; wherein said wrist band is in electronic communication with said control and is adapted to allow a user to selectively activate said launching mechanism with by pressing said button.
 14. The quarterback training device of claim 1, wherein one of said two spaced side panels includes an elongated aperture therethrough; wherein said movable ball ram includes an elongated rod extending therefrom adapted to extend through and move along said elongated aperture; and wherein said elongated rod includes a flag attached to a distal end portion thereof; wherein when said movable ball ram is moving along said stationary linear track toward said front panel, the flag indicates to a user that a football is about to be launched from said launching mechanism.
 15. The quarterback training device of claim 11, wherein said hand-off shelf is formed having a horse-shoe shape adapted to releasably hold a football thereon outside from said interior volume of said main body. 